Electric heating-furnace.



E. E. WALKER L l. W. COX.

ELECTRIC HEATING FuRNAcE. APPLICATION ILED IAN. 2.1911. RNEWED IULY'JL 1911.

' Patented Feb.19,1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. WALKER AND JOHN W.`COX, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC HEATING-FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

Application led January 2, 1917, Serial No. 140,010. Renewed July 1i, 1917. Serial No. 180,016.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat We, EDWARD E. WALKER, a Acitizen of the United States, and JoH'N W. Cox, a' subject of the King of Great Britain, having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Heating-Fur naces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric heating furnaces and consists incertain improvements in the construction thereof as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to utilize'an electric arc for a heating furnace. In carrying out the invention a liquid electrode is utilizeclwliich diffuses the intense heat of thc arc, thus prolonging the life of the electrode and so extending the heat area as to make it effective as a heatingr unit.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:-

Figure l shows a horizontal section on the line 'l--l in Fig. 2'.

Fig. 2 shows a vertical section on the line 2-2 in Fig. l.

1 marks the furnace Wall, 2 a receptacle arranged within the space inclosedr by the wall, 3 a support for the receptacle, 4 a liquid electrode, 5 a seeondelectrode adapted to act with the liquid electrode, and 6 receptacles for materials to be treated, as for instance, iron castings under treatment to anneal them so as to form malleable eastings. These are arranged on the supporting Hoor 7 at the sides of the receptacle 2.

Any metal fusing under an are and having electric conductivity may be used for thel electrode 4l, for instance iron may be used. The liquid electrodev is agitated and the heat from the arc is thereby diffused throughout the liquid and diffused from the liquid, the liquid giving a large radiating surface effective for this purpose, The upper wall of the 'furnace receives and deflects this heat out the furnace and communicated to the material being treated. The liquid elecso that the heat is diffused through-v trode may be variously placed With relation tothe Walls of the furnace depending on the material to be treated and the convenience `in operation.

We are aware that furnaces have been constructed for melting metals in which the metal is subjected to an electric current but in 4thesev furnaces the effort is to conserve the heat in the metal rather than to dissipate it as in the present invention.

The liquid electrode may bemade molten or liquid through the action of the are or may be introduced to the receptacle in this condition.

Vhat We claim as new istl. In a heating furnace, the combination of aninclosing wall: a supporting floor for material to be treated; a heat diffusing electrode liquid under the heat of an arc; and a second electrode for completing the are.

2. In a heating furnace, the combination Aof an electrode receptacle; an electrode-in liquid form in the receptacle, the receptacle giving the liquid a heat diffusing area; an inclosing wall including a space of greater area than the liquid electrode; and a second electrode. n

'3. In a heating furnace; the combination of a heat diffusing element in thev form of a liquid electrode: and means for completing the are with said electrode.

4. In a. heating furnace, the combination of a heat diffusing element in vthe form of a liquid electrode; means for completing the arc with said electrode; and a heat diffus ing Wall out of contact With the liquid elec trode and in position to receive and defiect heat from said liquid electrode.

5. In a heating furnace` the combination of a heat diffusing element in the form of a liquid electrode; an inclosing Wall including ,a space' of greater area than the electrode` said wall being positioned to receive and deflect the heat from lthe liquid electrode; and a second electrode acting in connection with the 'liquid electrode.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

EDWARD WALKER JOHN W. COX. 

